Animals on the Web

Visit these Animal Websites!


The giant oarfish may be able to detect seismic activity. They usually live deep below the ocean's surface. They are commonly found 2000-3000 feet below the surface of the ocean. They have surfaced before earthquakes occurred in the past and some scientists believe sensing these waves may be why they come ashore.

Giant Squid Tentacles - Click for more images of squids

Select two stinging or toxic creatures to compare. Use a Venn diagram to chart the likenesses and differences of the two species you selected.




Crocodiles

American Crocodile

Nile Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile

Caiman of South America

Big Cats

Click to explore the world of big cats

Asiatic Lion of the Gir Reserve

Now what do you think happens when big cats and the caiman do battle?

Jaguar vs. Caiman

Roadrunner Vs. Rattle Snake

Roadrunner

Vs.

Western Diamondback Rattler

Predict what you think will happen!



To hear the actual sounds the roadrunners makes click on the picture of the bird above
and you will be redirected to a site with all of the sounds it makes. It does not say, "Beep Beep!"

Wolves and Foxes
They are always the bad guys in the story! Are they really that bad or have they been pinned with a bad rap?



National Geographic - Wolf National Geographic - Red Fox

Wolves in Literature	Foxes in Literature
Little Red Riding Hood by the Brothers Grimm	Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
Big Wolf Little Wolf by Nadine Brun Cosme	Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack
The Three Little Pigs by Joseph Jacobs	The Fox in the Library by Lorenz Pauli
Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kaska	Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Wolf is Coming by Elizabeth McDonald	One Smart Goose by Caroline Jayne Church
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kiplin	Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
White Fang by Jack London	The Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

Dragonflies

1. Dragonflies are not related to common flies. In fact, they are part of an entirely different order of insects. Dragonflies are part of the Odonata order, which also includes damselflies.
2. Worldwide, the Odonata order of insects includes more than 5,000 individual species. They exist in many countries around the world. Within the United States, there are about 400 species of Odonata.
3. You often see dragonflies near bodies of water like ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams because they lay their eggs on or near the water.
4. Dragonfly young (nymphs) have a special appendage on their head that they use as a spear to catch small fish. They are predatory insects from birth.
5. Dragonflies are not born with wings. They are born in a larvae state and eventually go through a partial metamorphosis process, during which they grow their wings.
6. Dragonflies spend most of their lives in the larva stage (up to three years, depending on the species). The adult, winged stage only lasts a few weeks. Mating is the primary reason for their winged stage. So when you see a winged dragonfly, you know it's toward the end of its lifespan. Sad but true.
7. Male dragonflies can be very territorial, staking claim to a particular area alongside a pond or stream. When you see two adults chasing each other through the air, it is often one male chasing another from its territory.
8. When you see two dragonflies flying through the air attached to one another, it is almost always a male and female mating.
9. Dragonflies will sometimes travel in swarms, which may be related to weather changes such as the passage of cold fronts.
10. Dragonflies prey on other creatures through their entire life cycle. As larva in bodies of water, they prey on other small creatures like mosquito larva, tiny fish, etc. As adults, they eat other flying insects.
11. Dragonflies can be useful in controlling mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are one of their primary food sources!
12. Dragonflies are ancient insects. They have existed on Planet Earth for approximately 300 million years. Today, they look very much like they did in "dinosaur times," though they have gradually gotten smaller since then.
13. The largest dragonfly fossil had a wingspan of nearly three feet. That makes it the largest flying insect in known history.
14. Dragonflies have two pairs of wings. The wings are mostly transparent and move very fast, so it often appears that they have more than two pairs.
15. The front wings of the dragonfly are slightly longer than the rear wings. This helps with both speed and maneuverability.
16. Though many people fear them, dragonflies cause no harm to humans whatsoever. They are often curious toward humans and will fly around you for that reason, but they do not sting or bite.
17. Though dragonflies are essentially harmless to humans, there were many spooky legends about them in the past. For example, people used to believe that sleeping outside put you at risk of having your eyes sewn shut by the dragonfly or "darning needle."
18. One of the most distinguishing features of dragonflies is their eyes. They have large, compound eyes with many facets or sides.
19. Because of their large, multifaceted eyes, the adult dragonfly can see nearly 360 degrees around itself.
20. Though you can't see them all with the naked eye, the compound eyes of the dragonfly can contain thousands of tiny lenses.
21. As far as insects go, dragonflies are among the fastest. Some of the faster species can fly upward of 30 miles per hour. Their four wings also allow them to move sideways, backward, to hover in place, etc. And they can do all of these movements quickly and accurately, which makes them well suited to eat other insects right out of the air.

Dragonflies
1. How many different species of dragon are there in the world? In Illinois?
2. Why do you see dragonflies near sources of water?
3. Dragonflies are born as larva. How long does it take for them to grow wings?
4. What do dragonflies eat?
5. How long have dragonflies existed on earth?
6. How many pairs of wings do they have?
7. What is the creepy legend of the dragonfly?
8. How fast can the dragonfly go?


Wild Turkey



Giant Birds

Emu

emu eggs

Flamingo

Ostrich

Ostrich with 12 eggs

If you want to know how big the ostrich's eye is and some other really interesting facts and figures just click here.

Flamingos in Africa

Ostriches on the Run


Emu

• Polar Bears
  1. http://www.alaska-bear-pictures.com/
  2. http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3877/PolarBears.html
• Panda Central
  1. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/
• Zebras
  1. http://www.sazoo-aq.org/
  2. http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~kantner/zebras/
• Butterfly
  1. http://mgfx.com/butterfly/gallery/index.htm
  2. http://adver-net.com/FMonHome.html
• Frogs
  1. http://allaboutfrogs.org/
• Elephants
  1. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8712/Africanelliepics.html
  2. http://www.nczooeletrack.org/elephants/facts.html
• Cheetahs
  1. http://www.birminghamzoo.com/animals/
     1.http://www.birminghamzoo.com/animals/
• Colobus Monkey
  1. http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozscience/c/123790.html
• Pygmy Marmoset
  1. http://www.rarespecies.org/
• Leopard
  1. http://www.snowleopard.org/
• Tigers
  1. http://www.5tigers.org/new.htm

Zoos and Aquariums

1. Bronx Zoo: http://www.bronxzoo.com/animals-and-exhibits/animals.aspx
2. Kids Go Wild: http://www.kidsgowild.org/
3. Lincoln Park Zoo: http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/
4. Metro Washington Park Zoo: http://oregonzoo.org/
5. Monterey Bay Aquarium: http://www.mbayaq.org/
6. National Aquarium in Baltimore: http://www.aqua.org/
7. Sea World : http://www.seaworld.org/
8. The Electronic Zoo: http://netvet.wustl.edu/e-zoo.htm
9. The National Zoo: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
10. The San Diego Zoo: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/Zoo/zoo.html
11. Zoo Atlanta: http://www.zooatlanta.org/

Marsupials

Watch Preparing for a Eucalyptus Diet on PBS. See more from Nature.

|||| Collect information about organisms that occupy specific environments.

1.2.3

Critter Craze - This lesson introduces the concepts of basic needs, grouping, and habitats. (Author - Laurie Ayers) Match Animals to their Habitat - select one of the twelve habitats at Animal Universe and choose animals that live in that habitat
Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things 1.5.1 | 1.5.2
Observe and note differences among plants and animals of the same kind. 1.5.1		Ants are not all alike - take a look at some of them Frogs - See how differently from each other these frogs look and sound
Recognize the environment in which an organism is typically found. 1.5.2		The Farm - Visit several areas of the farm and notice the different types of things which live there. This is an excellent beginning site that teaches your students about the farm in addition to practicing beginning computer skills such as clicking once and using arrow keys. Penguins - An Internet activity resource for learning about penguins. Unique in that each section has a Read To Me button for audio. A very good information
Animal Habitats			Level: 1st Grade Time Frame: Approximately 1 Quarter Description: Students learn that animals must gather food, avoid predators, and withstand environmental conditions to survive. They also observe how body coverings, body parts, and behavior help play a part in the survival of animals.			Overview Activity List Learning Objectives Standards Resources

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Unit Overview All students, especially those who live in circumstances that limit their interaction with nature, must have the opportunity to observe a variety of animals and plants in the classrooms, on the school grounds, in the neighborhood, at home, in parks, etc. In these settings, students should be encouraged to ask questions about organisms—questions for which they can find answers by looking carefully at organisms (using hand lenses when needed), and by checking their observations and answers with one another. Students should investigate the habitats of many different kinds of local plants and animals, including weeds, aquatic plants, insects, amphibians, and some of the ways in which animals depend on plants and on each other. (Benchmarks for Science Literacy) Students in early elementary school can learn basic concepts related to animal needs for life, animal habitats, animals life cycles, and animal parts and functions. Most children enter kindergarten interested in living things and already able to distinguish among the common animals. The teacher’s task is to move students toward closer observations and more sophisticated understandings of the features of animals that connect or differentiate them. As much as possible, concepts related to animals should be learned through observation of real animals, as noted above. This unit should be taught in the fall or spring when students can observe outdoors. The students will study insects in a second grade unit devoted solely to insects, so this particular class of organisms is de-emphasized in this unit. This unit also introduces students to animals around the world. However, this part of the unit should not be used as a substitute for studying real animals locally and in the classroom, as the latter is considered far more important and appropriate for students at this grade level.

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Activity List Everyone Needs a Home (Habitat) Different Habitats for Different Kinds of Animals Animal Habitats in Our Classroom Animals and Their Habitats Around the School Animals and Their Habitats in the Local Area Animal Parts and Adaptations Animal Habitats Around the World Student Investigations (Questions about Animals)

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Learning Objectives
Students will observe and know and observe that:

• Animals (and humans) have basic needs for air, water, food, shelter, and space.
• Habitat is a word that is used when we talk about these needs.
• Animals have a variety of characteristics; some are alike in what they look like, what they do, what they eat, and where they live; and others are very different from one another.
• Scientists divide animals into groups, depending upon how they are alike and different.
• Six common groups of animals are birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and insects.
• Within each animal group, there are some similarities in habitat.
• The different parts of an animal have different purposes or functions.
• Animals live in, and are adapted to, various habitats.
• Animals have parts or features that help them survive in different habitats.
• Animals interact with human beings and with each other in various ways.

Students will practice*:

• Describing observed events
• Developing questions on scientific topics
• Collecting data for investigations
• Recording data
• Arranging data into logical patterns and describing patterns
• Comparing observations of individual and group results

*Students will practice one or more of these in all activities; to avoid repetition, however, these objectives are not listed in the activities

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Standards
Illinois State Standards - Early Elementary
Students will observe and know that:
12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt, and change

• Identify and describe the component parts of living things and their major functions.
• Categorize living organisms using a variety of observable features.

12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment

• Describe and compare characteristics of living things in relationship to their environments.
• Describe how living things depend on one another for survival.

11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles, and processes of scientific inquiry

• Describe an observed event.
• Develop questions on scientific topics.
• Collect and record data for investigations.
• Arrange data into logical patterns and describe the patterns.
• Compare observations of individual and group results.

Benchmarks for Science Literacy
By the end of 2nd grade, students should know that:

• Some animals and plants are alike in the way they look and the things they do, and others are very different from each other.
• Plants and animals have features that help them live in different environments.
• Animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants for shelter and nesting.
• Living things are found almost everywhere in the world. There are somewhat different kinds in different places.

National Science Education Standards: Fundamental Concepts and Principles
As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of fundamental concepts and principles:

• Organisms have basic needs, for example, animals need air, water, and food. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs can be met
• Each animal has different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.
• Animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different animals.
• Some animals eat plants for food. Other animals eat animals that eat the plants.
• All organisms cause changes in the environment where they live. Some of these changed are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, whereas others are beneficial.

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|| ISBN

TITLE	AUTHOR	CATEGORY	LEVEL
0590718096	Rosie's Walk	Hutchins, Pat	animals	1.5
0064431169	Grouchy Ladybug, The	Carle, Eric	animals	1
0448405865	Chickens Aren't the Only Ones	Heller, Ruth	animals	1
0195581083	Chicken Licken	Bishop, Gavin	animals	1.5
0590407430	Clifford the Big Red Dog	Bridwell, Norman	animals	1.4
0670124338	Andy and the Lion	Daugherty, James	animals	1.8
0060224908	Julius	Hoff, Syd	animals	1.9
0606005153	I Took My Frog to the Library	Kimmel, Eric A.	animals	1.5
0839230109	Inch By Inch	Lionni, Leo	animals	1.5
0590411136	The Biggest Pumpkin Ever	Bassett, Jeni C.; Kroll, Steven	animals	1
0723234604	Peter Rabbit	Potter, Beatrix	animals	1
0590030299	Very Hungry Caterpillar, The	Carle, Eric	animals	1
0679864350	Berenstain Bear's New Neighbors, The	Berenstain, Stan; Berenstain, Jan	animals	1.5
0679856226	Amazing Anthony Ant	Philpot, Lorna; Philpot, Graham	animals	1
0606062823	Clifford the Firehouse Dog	Bridwell, Norman	animals	1
0517598833	Courtney	Burningham, John	animals	1
0590997181	Dumb Bunnies, The	Pilkey, Dav; Denim, Sue	animals	1.5
039567400X	Annotation Duncan the Dancing Duck	Hoff, Bernard	animals	1
0060228687	Annotation The Great Snake Escape	Coxe, Molly	animals	1.5
0525452389	Annotation Annie and Cousin Precious	Chorao, Kay	animals	1
0525451927	Annotation Hunky Dory Found It	Evans, Katie; Stoeke, Janet Morgan	animals	1
0606095438	Annotation Let's Go, Froggy!	London, Jonathan; Remkiewicz, Frank	animals	1
0786842199	The Lion King: Morning at Pride Rock	Slater, Teddy	animals	1
0590477242	Miss Spider's Tea Party	Kirk, David	animals	1.5
059072701X	Annotation Franklin in the Dark	Bourgeois, Paulette	animals	1
ISBN	TITLE	AUTHOR	CATEGORY	LEVEL
0395486661	Curious George at the Beach	Rey, Margret; Shalleck, Allan J.	animals	1
0060205679	Annotation And I Mean It, Stanley	Bonsall, Crosby N.	animals	1
039921402X	Whale Song	Young, Ed; Johnston, Tony	animals	1
0803702779	Annotation Yonder	Johnston, Tony; Bloom, Lloyd	animals	1.5
0027110605	Annotation One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo, The	Aitken, Amy; Blume, Judy	animals	1.8
0590383965	The Bravest St. Bernard Barry	Lynn, Hall	animals	1.8
0027090329	Annotation Grizzly Sisters	Bellows, Cathy	animals	1.7
0060245018	Annotation Newt	Novak, Matt	animals	1.5
0060229586	Annotation The Lighthouse Children	Hoff, Syd	animals	1.8
0060208082	Annotation The Cow Buzzed	Zimmerman, Andrea G.; Meisel, Paul; Clemesha, David	animals	1.3
0823408604	Annotation The Dog Who Had Kittens	Stevens, Janet; Robertus, Polly M.	animals	1.9
0152380078	Annotation If Anything Ever Goes Wrong At the Zoo	Dyer, Jane; Hendrick, Mary J.	animals	1.8
080501635X	Annotation In the Tall Tall Grass	Fleming, Denise	animals	1
060607855X	Annotation Me First	Lester, Helen	animals	1.6
0805014012	Annotation Old Black Fly	Gammell, Stephen; Aylesworth, Jim	animals	1.1
0606109048	Annotation Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!	McPhail, David	animals	1
0803712006	Annotation Ten Sly Piranhas: A Counting Story in Reverse (A Tale of Wickedness - & Worse!)	Chess, Victoria; Wise, William	animals	1
0606128328	Annotation Tuesday	Wiesner, David	animals	1.7
0399221778	Annotation Bear	Schoenherr, John	animals	1
0060219866	Annotation The Cow Is Mooing Anyhow	Zimmer, Dirk; Geringer, Laura	animals	1
0395390400	Curious George Walks the Pets	Rey, Margret; Shalleck, Allan J.	animals	1.5
0060245867	Annotation If You Give A Mouse A Cookie	Bond, Felicia; Numeroff, Laura J.	animals	1
0064430782	Annotation Mama Don't Allow	Hurd, Thacher; Hurd, Edith Thacher;	animals	1
0152567119	Annotation The Napping House	Wood, Audrey; Wood, Don	animals	1
0374356211	Annotation Old Mother Hubbard and Her Wonderful Dog	Marshall, James	animals	1
0395678994	Annotation One Cow Coughs: A Counting Book for the Sick and	Loomis, Christine; Dypold, Pat	animals	1
0307115941	The Three Bears	Ingoglia, Gina	animals	1
0135240417	Annotation The Puppy Last	Asch, Frank	animals	1.7
0590568663	Annotation Miss Spider's Wedding	Kirk, David; White, Antoinette	animals	1.5
0152002014	Dog Who Cried Wolf, The	Coffelt, Nancy	animals	1.9
0590307134	Miss Spider's New Car	Kirk, David	animals	1.5
0688007236	Annotation Old Turtle's Baseball Stories	Kessler, Leonard	animals	1.6
0688089437	Annotation Julius, the Baby of the World	Henkes, Kevin	animals	1.9
0671708538	Klunky Monkey, New Kid in Class	Brook, Bonnie; Kraus, Robert	animals	1.8
0060233958	Annotation Happy Day, The	Simont, Marc; Krauss, Ruth	animals	1
0060271590	Annotation Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever	Paterson, Katherine; Brown, Jane C.	animals	1
0525457410	Annotation The Puddle Pail	Kleven, Elisa	animals	1
0590690752	Annotation The Goose That Almost Got Cooked	Simont, Marc	animals	1
0803719809	Annotation Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl	Schweninger, Ann; Van Leeuwen, Jean	animals	1
0060272597	Annotation Bunny Cakes	Wells, Rosemary	animals	1
0786803185	Annotation McDuff Moves In	Wells, Rosemary; Jeffers, Susan	animals	1
0399229108	Annotation A Lot of Otters	Berger, Barbara H.	animals	1
0525458697	Annotation A Friend for Minerva Louise	Stoeke, Janet Morgan	animals	1
0395294371	Annotation Q is for Duck	Elting, Mary; Kent, Jack; Folsom, Michael	animals	1.9
0816742480	Owl Babies Fly	Palazzo-Craig, Janet	animals	1
0394809149	Annotation Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse	Lionni, Leo	animals	1
1558580093	Annotation Rainbow Fish	Pfister, Marcus	animals	1
0517558238	Annotation Angelina's Christmas	Holabird, Katharine	animals	1
039541105X	Annotation Sheep in a Jeep	Apple, Margot; Shaw, Nancy	animals	1.2
0395481600	Sheep on a Ship	Apple, Margot; Shaw, Nancy	animals	1.8
0606109293	Annotation Sheep Take a Hike	Apple, Margot; Shaw, Nancy	animals	1.8
0395611288	Annotation Sheep Out To Eat	Apple, Margot; Shaw, Nancy	animals	1.8
0395536812	Annotation Sheep In A Shop	Apple, Margot; Shaw, Nancy	animals	1.8
0823409201	Little Rabbit's Easter Surprise	Compton, Joanne; Compton, Kenn	animals	1.7
0887080014	The Greedy Python	Carle, Eric; Buckley, Richard	animals	1.9
0763600857	Annotation Red Fox And The Baby Bunnies	Baron, Alan	animals	1.7
0615009123	Red Fox Dances	Baron, Alan	animals	1.5
0606041583	Annotation Annie and the Wild Animals	Brett, Jan	animals	1
0688042597	Annotation Watching Foxes	Arnosky, Jim	animals	1.8
0318696754	Annotation The Ice Horse	Locker, Thomas; Christiansen, Candace	animals	1
0590415263	Annotation The Mud Pony	Cohen, Caron L.	animals	1
0688084834	Annotation Emily & the Enchanted Frog	Griffith, Helen V.; Lamb, Susan C.	animals	1
0517599090	Way Home	Rogers, Gregory; Hathorn, Libby	animals	1
0152012885	Annotation Raising Dragons	Primavera, Elise; Nolen, Jerdine	animals	1
0590603809	Annotation Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Humongous Pumpkin, The	Berenstain, Stan; Berenstain, Jan	animals	1
0395701457	Annotation Who Owns the Cow?	Clements, Andrew	animals	1
0316115460	Arthur's Mystery Envelope	Brown, Marc	animals	1
039480001X	Annotation Cat in the Hat, The	Seuss, Dr.	animals	1
0590211013	Annotation Alligator Baby	Munsch, Robert; Martchenko, Michael	animals	1
0689319738	Beardream	Kastner, Jill; Hobbs, Will	animals	1
1558588825	Annotation Big Squirrel & the Little Rhinoceros, The	De Beer, Hans; Damjan, Mischa; Hort, Lenny	animals	1
0316109924	Annotation Bionic Bunny Show, The	Brown, Laurene K.; Brown, Marc T.	animals	1
0689838514	Annotation Bubba and Trixie	Campbell, Lisa	animals	1
0606122052	Annotation Buck-Buck the Chicken	Ehrlich, Amy	animals	1
060611212X	Annotation Clifford's First Autumn	Bridwell, Norman	animals	1